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KL Rahul got an early lifeline in the second innings of the ongoing India vs Sri Lanka Test match in Galle. Thanks to his batting partner Devdutt Padikkal, who insisted that Rahul take a review. Padikkal's advice saved KL Rahul and Team India from losing their second batter.
After the quick departure of Yashasvi Jaiswal, the wicket of KL Rahul would be a huge blow for the Indian cricket team. Sri Lanka and Prabath Jayasuriya were almost certain that they had got the big fish through their spin, as there was no bat involved in the movement. The delivery was also in line with the stumps.
Devdutt Padikkal saves KL Rahul with DRS after batter starts walking back
Apparently, at first glance, it seemed to be a clear leg before wicket dismissal, and Rahul started walking back. But the review showed that the ball was missing the stumps because of the bounce. Thus, Rahul received an extra lifeline in the match. As soon as he saw the ball missing the stumps, he hugged Devdutt Padikkal in joy.
"Now, this is KL Rahul's reaction. Thanks, partner. That was lovely. It's almost like he's given it another lifeline and tested it," the commentator explained the scenes on the ground.
Watch KL Rahul's reaction here after Devdutt Padikkal saved him:
KL Rahul was given LBW.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 18, 2026
He started to walk back to dressing room, then Padikkal asked to take the DRS and it was missing - KL got another life.
Then a big hug from KL to Padikkal 😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/BepCLDU2UZ
Devdutt Padikkal saved KL Rahul here
— SiKANDAR (@430atEdgbaston) August 18, 2026
He was the one who told him to go for the review when KL was already ready to walk back to the dressing room. And KL acknowledged it with that hug ❤️#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/Ny3yTtqUz1
Fifty-plus runs partnership between KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal
With the extra added lifeline, the Indian batting duo went on to establish another fifty-plus runs partnership in the match. In the first innings of the Test, Padikkal and Rahul stitched a 150-plus runs partnership for the team, after an unfortuname run out dismissal early in the match.
In the following innings too, these two batters stitched together a 50-plus runs partnership, which is a record for an Indian batting pair in Sri Lanka. Before Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal, there were only three other pairs who achieved the feat in the past.
50-plus stands in both innings of a Test for IND in SL
Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das - Colombo (SSC), 2001
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir - Galle, 2008
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir - Colombo (PSS), 2008
VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina - Colombo (PSS), 2010
KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal - Galle, 2026
Team India increasing their lead vs Sri Lanka
As of now, the Men in Blue are maintaining the front seat in the match. In the first innings, they scored 462 runs, and currently they are on 81 in exchange for the loss of a couple of wickets. India leads by 259 runs as Sri Lanka was bundled out for 284 runs in their first innings.
Currently, Padikkal and captain Shubman Gill are on the crease. Yashavi Jaiswal (0) and KL Rahul (35) were the two batters who lost their wickets.
